I know this seems excessive, but keep in mind that girls used to be taught this by their mothers over a period of several years as well as possibly taking school classes that went over homemaking as well. Before having children, it was easy to manage my home without a system. Even when my children were little, it was still doable. Last year was the first school year where all my children were school age, so I was doing schooling with all of them, and everything else in the home and our business got shoved to the side. It became clear to me that I couldn’t do it without a system in place, so here I am trying to really get established with the Fly Lady app this summer so that we have some sanity when we start our new school year here pretty soon.
Day 1 - clean sink - rescue room. 5 min timer and clean one area in room. - hot spot. 2 min timer and clean spot that bothers you - place for keys and bag - place for bills and control journey - 15 min daily declutter: digital, has garbage - find inspirational quotes or your why. Day 2 - set up control journal : daily routine, zones, weekly plan, menu, numbers - update calendar Day 3 - solid morning routine. Self care. Exercise. Shower. Get dressed. - make bed, quick swipe of bathroom. Start load of laundry. Clear hotspot. - admin- check calendar. Check flight plan (look at link) - mission (drink water, look at quotes) Day 4 - evening routine - 20 min pick up - do dishes - do laundry or fold - do hotspot - shine ur sink. Towel dry = kitchen close. - admin- prep for tomorrow clothes or food for tomorrow - review calendar. - self care get in pj. Sleep early. Day 5 - Monday: home blessing, change sheet - tues rest - Wednesday: plan - Thursday: errand and appointment day - Friday: car, purse, date - Saturday fun - Sunday rest Day 6 - make afternoon routine. - 15 min declutter - 5 min room rescue. - prep dinner. Day 7 ZONES -kitchen - Bath - bedrooms - living room
I retired 19 years ago and found FlyLady. Wish I had found her many years ago when I was working and had kids at home. It was always a struggle to work, have a husband and kids, and try to keep a clean house. But I followed her system and it was wonderful. Now, at age 73, I have ad to adapt to fit my energy level. My bathroom schedule is: 1st visit to master bath in morning, I swish toilet bowl, 2nd visit, I swipe the tank. 3rd visit is 2nd bath & swish toilet bowl, 4th visit is 2nd bath & swipe tank. 5th visit is 2nd bath & swipe counter and sink. Next day is same procedure except 2nd and 4th visit I swipe toilet seat. Next day 2nd and 4th visit I swipe bottom of toilet. I clean my shower while I'm in the shower. I keep spray bottle with vinegar and Dawn in shower and a squeegee . Divide shower into 5 parts and do 1 part after each shower. Master bath counter and sink--While brushing my teeth with electric toothbrush, I clear counter and swipe with Lysol wipe. When finished brushing teeth, I swipe sink. All of these tasks together takes less than 5 minutes. And I never have a day that I have to clean bathrooms and they are always company ready. Morning routine is 1 load of laundry, empty dishwasher, and prep meals for the day after getting dressed and making bed. Monday--dust , mirrors, & glass, Tuesday--vacuum, Wednesday--mop, Thursday--meal plan and do grocery shopping, Friday--paperwork, pay bills. check planning notebook, change sheets on bed. Zone cleaning is one room per week where I focus the daily chore on that room to do a deep clean and do a quick clean on the other rooms. This has worked great for me. I based it all on FlyLady. Happy Cleaning from NC!! Kathryn, not David
Kathryn! I hope I am doing the same thing as you at 73! Thank you so much for all the great tips and info! I felt so inspired reading your comment and I’m sure others will feel the same way!
Forgot one thing. I use Lysol wipes for all bathroom cleaning ( hard to find now). Since I don't use them in shower and toilet bowel, I spray them each Saturday with Lysol spray.(equally as hard to find now).
I love how you were very direct and to the point. Thank you very much for the explanation! You really did a good job of explaining it. I'm excited to give it a shot!!!
This has been SO helpful. I need to visually see the big picture, and you've done it for me. I definitely like how you simplified the steps as well. Thank you!!!! I will watch this video over and over! Thanks for posting the list in your comments as well.
Thank you for this video. I really found it informative yet simple to follow. I loved your graphic! Do you have a printable please? Thank you so much! 👍😊
I found flylady in 2007, she was a treasure in my life and still is! I switch this a bit, i do meal planning and prep in the AM because i often use a crock pot and need the extra cook time. I also add a "weather watch" before laying out the next days outfit in the PM because i live in new england.😊😊❤❤
I love your flylady breakdown! I found her about 15 years ago, and it was super helpful. If people only did the swish & swipe and cleaned their sinks, it's a game changer! People are always amazed that our bathroom is basically always clean😊
I'm a huge fan of The Secret Slob! If you get a second, check out my Clean Mama vs FlyLady video! I mention her account. I recently subscribed to Diane in Denmark. Can't wait to binge watch this week!
Great summary of the system. I've been getting into this and establishing the habits little by little. It was daunting at first but if you take it in gradually, you'll start to love it. My family is really enjoying the cleaner house. My children are pitching in and life isn't so overwhelming now. I'm still a work in progress but I feel so much better even after a few weeks of trying this. Thank you for the concise explanation of the Flylady system! I'm going to take a screenshot of you final slide showing all the parts.
I like listening to your videos because as I'm cleaning and have my hands full. I start to feel motivated and start to embrace the process of getting back on track with Mt hone
Liked 2 months ago, and coming back again to get a refresh! Thanks so much for this video! One of the best! I've never felt confident in how to take care of a home but this system (which I'll modify) is so good. I'll email to ask for your graphic!
Thanks for this detailed description! I just came across Flylady and its brilliant for this mama w two littles. I'm excited to watch more of your content. I subscribe to your channel bc I appreciate you keep you videos on the shorter side!!😊👍
I forgot to add the monthly "food inventory" needed for meal planning. Pantry, freezers, and refrigerator. Make a list of foods that need to be used up immediately to avoid waste😊
I know this is so random but the way you keep taking breaths reminds me of myself when my ferritin was low. I know you’re talking fast and getting out of breath but worth a check! Xx
So I am naturally low on iron and have taken supplements in the past. I have a new patient appointment this week actually, so I will ask about it then! Thank you for saying something. I actually don't notice it in the video but appreciate that you are more sensitive to it than I might be because I am so used to how I talk. Thanks for reaching out.
I have done FlyLadyPlus and really love it - but I think I have fallen off wagon now my husband is self isolating at home - this video is great refresher please can
Keep a notebook as you clean each room so if you notice something that needs attention or fixing, you can address it the next time you focus on that zone.😊
Please do! I'd love to hear your feedback, too! We've been home for almost a month now and (hopefully) two more weeks to go. I hope you are staying safe!
Well. I am trying to get into a routine especially now with. This pandemic I caught a cold last week but I have been swiping the bathroom kitchen and dinniing room doing 5 min or ten. Minute hot spots it’s all I can do but I will make it will be watching for your video...thanks ...joan
john martin it makes life so much easier! After a few weeks things move super quick because everything is clean at a base level. Sorry you caught a cold! Not a fun time to be sick.
Loved this - great and clear. I've been doing lots of FL elements because I'm a fan of Kimmy at She's In Her Apron...but this video means I'm going to be doing it in full. Thank you! Subscribed.
At Home I'm Mum I’ve not heard of “ she’s in her apron.” I’ll check out her account tonight. I’m glad you got a lot out of the video! It took some time to pull the graphs together, so I appreciate hearing that.
For keys, HSN sells decorative hooks so that you can hang the keys in your purse. I have keys for my car on one, keys for my house on one, keys for the post office on one. I love them. I can glance across the room and know exactly which keys are in my purse and if it is raining outside, I can come to a door and find my keys in half a second.
I leave the house at 6.45, and is home around 17.30, if that helps? :) I live alone (I am a student), but if you have kids, you can easily Taylor it to your preferences. I am a work in progress, but maybe you can find some inspiration. :) Afternoon: I usually have a small, healthy snack (for energy), and relax a bit. I personally need just 15 minutes to decompress. Then I do, what I call a 5-minute-dash. I spend 5 minutes in each room (kitchen, bathroom, entry way, livingroom), where I just do the things that need to get done. I can spend more time if I want, I just have to spend 5 minutes cleaning/tidying each room. This will include the swish and swipe in the bathroom, and cleaning the lunchbox in the kitchen. (I don't have a dishwasher). I sometimes eat late, and sometimes after this. As my dishes can get out of hand very quickly, I make sure to clean them right after the meal, and letting most of it drip-dry. I am also currently trying out some meal-prepping, to get more time for other things. Evening: I put out the clothes for tomorrow, get my 'launch pad' ready, and do a last swipe of the kitchen (clean the sink, changing the towels/rags, put away dishes if they are dry), take off makeup, maybe do a little selfcare, and so on. I try to put dirty clothes in the laundry right away, and I sort it as I put it in (one bag for lights, one for darks/colors; I also put the items in laundry bags if they need to), and hang up clothes that can be worn again. This way, I get a clean start in the morning, and once I reserve the common laundry machines, I can grab it, and head down to the laundry room the second I get home. Morning: My alarm rings at 5.30. I pull back the duvet to let my bed get some air, then take a quick shower. I don't wash my hair every day since it is curly, I do that in the afternoon. Then I get dressed, put on makeup, make my hair look nice. By then it is 6 am, and I make and eat some oatmeal (takes 5 minutes, and keeps you full until lunch), and eat it quickly. I try to do the dishes if I have time, but sometimes I leave them soaking, and do them in the 5 minute afternoon dash. 6.30-6.45 is for the last touches (brushing teeth, getting coat and shoes on, doing the dishes, and taking out the trash on the way to work.)
Oh, I forgot to mention. I try to keep decluttering and 'deep cleaning' to weekends, or on Fridays, where I am home a bit earlier. I am not currently doing zone cleaning, but I could just divide each room into a zone. This is the beauty of FlyLady; it is so easy to pick and choose what suits your life. I definitely want to get a control journal, but I have not gotten around to that yet.
Thank you! Your hints and tips help. I am married, so I like to spend some down time with him. He isn’t so organized or a fan of strict schedules, so there is a little need to tweak the schedule. I have seen a lot of the fly lady fans, but I feel it wasn’t so easy to fit into a schedule of someone who works long hours, sometimes needs to do work at home and has someone else in the house. Thanks for the tips to help make it work.
Penni! I uploaded a "slimmed down" version of the FlyLady program. Please check it out if you get a second. I made it with you and a few other commentators in mind! Thanks, Stephanie!
Great explanation. Thank you!! I do have one question though. I’m still confused as to when we are to do the zone cleaning and how much time are we to spend doing it each day (assuming it is daily)?
DebDeb P Actually, in a strange turn of events, I started drafting a video called “the FlyLady program stripped down.” You are the fourth or fifth commentor that’s had that same reaction to the video… So I know that there is a need. Thank you for your comment.
Deb! I uploaded a "slimmed down" version of the FlyLady program. I hope this helps working moms who desire an easier/less intense version of the program!
Check out FlyLady system for newbies at RU-vid channel A better life with Kat. She explains the system in a very detailed way but also in a way that makes sense. Because it is a lot to take in. She explains how to work the system for working moms. I also recommend the FlyLady App you can get started right away, I love it. It is found on the FlyLady website and it is free!
I was a divorced mother of one and I was gone 10 hours a day. So my daughter and I had chores, small ones when she was little and a few more as she grew: hang her uniform, pick up toys, put toys away at the end of the day; dry dishes (no dishwasher then). On Friday evening, we would blast rock and roll music and the two of us would vacuum and dust and change linens. We would laugh a lot. Many years later when I was remarried and had a boy, I tried to do the same thing; it worked mostly although it was harder because son and father shared a create-a-mess gene. But I discovered that if I wrote the chores and put them on the fridge, they were done when I got home. My son is an adult now but he does his own laundry and irons his shirts and picks up and dust. He'll make a good husband someday - maybe. LOL
Thank you for breaking it down. I'm trying to start the fly Lady system but her website is extremely thorough, but very overwhelming if you're trying to understand the entire system at once. I love the way you've broken it all down. Do you have a printable of your schedule? Thank you :)
Im so new to all this, but after hearing all this, it makes me feel like all Ill be doing is cleaning the house all day. How do you work this around working from home?
Stephanie, you are going supers. It sounds so overwhelming. Is it possible that you just do one day at a time. There were so many things to focus on. Do I do them all?
I think the program is completely customizable. I recently uploaded a "slimmed-down" version of the program with students, working moms and professionals in mind. It's how I would work the program if I had a 9-5. If you email me, I will send you the corresponding graphics.
The RU-vid video FlyLady system for newbies explains it really well too. The channel is called A better life with Kat. It explains how to work the system for working moms. I also recommend the FlyLady App. It’s on the FlyLady website and it’s free! It’s customizable, it saves time and you can choose what to do at your own pace. You just have to know some of the terminology which this video explains.
I will be asking this question... as a teacher I will return to work. What does the Fly Lady say about the folks that are working all day? By 2-3 pm I am totally wiped out and need a nap. Should we do m sentence and play catch up on the weeke n ds? Or keep following this plan as best as we c an? Teachers get up early but I am just wondering if there are others who feel the summer is the time to regain the control?
I posted a slimmed-down FlyLady video a few months ago. I did have a few people that still felt it was unattainable, but you might get a few ideas of how to structure the program if you work. Best of luck this year at school. I am so grateful for teachers and all that you do. I hope that you are getting the support you need as you return.
I have a disability and I work full-time. Not able to get all that done in a week when all my chores are done on my weekends. I spend about 1.5 hrs to commute to work and home. No one in my family can cook. It's horrible set up . It may take 3 weeks to get one week of ZONE CLEANING done in my house and pretty much everything is a hot spot here. No one wants to help me or participate in the chores my husband is also disabled 😒 gets my angry. I have to get rid of everyone in the house just declutter a room they're in my way I'd they are not helping
MyImaginationsUK maybe it’s just the way I explained it. It’s really about building habits and those habits working together. If you give it a try, let me know what you think.
Stephanie S you explained it fine, it’s just way too much and while I love structure some things aren’t practical. For example only having appointments on one day. None of the people I have appointments with work the same day. I would also never have the energy to do all of those tasks. When do you find time to have a life?
MyImaginationsUK that’s fair. I currently stay at home with two kids, so I haven’t had a life in some time. 😂😂😂. I do appreciate your perspective and glad you took the time! I’m sure others feel the same way. Check out my clean mama review video. She might be better for you.
Stephanie S thanks for responding, I will have a look. I have a lot of health stuff to manage and I guess I just want something good enough and simple. I hope women don’t feel like they have to give up a sense of purpose for a perfectly clean home!
MyImaginationsUK What’s sad, is that I think women do you feel that way sometimes. I try and remember that keeping a clean home just sets the foundation for me being able to do what I want. Please don’t feel like you’re the only one struggling. I’ve felt that way plenty of times. Thank you so much for the conversation.
It's certainly not the baby step program that she outlines on her website. My video outlines how I would approach integrating the program as a beginner. I hope to help those that want to give the program a try with some guidance and tips.